The Impossible — 60-Second TV Spot (Inspirational Journey)

Now that the movie is about a week away from its theatrical release, the marketing machine for "The Impossible" has shifted into high gear. They released this pretty effective 60-second TV spot, highlighting the inspirational true story of which the gut-wrenching drama is based on, while also showcasing a batch of great reviews. Take a look, above.

"The Impossible" marks the English-language debut of Spanish filmmaker J.A. Bayona (The Orphanage) and has Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor portraying the real-life couple who miraculously survived the Indian Ocean tsunami, but discovered that reuniting their family in the aftermath was a much bigger hill to climb. The film opens in select cities on December 21st (five days shy of the eight-year anniversary of the history-making disaster).

synopsis: Maria (Naomi Watts), Henry (Ewan McGregor) and their three sons begin their winter vacation in Thailand, looking forward to a few days in tropical paradise. But on the morning of December 26th, as the family relaxes around the pool after their Christmas festivities the night before, a terrifying roar rises up from the center of the earth. As Maria freezes in fear, a huge wall of black water races across the hotel grounds toward her. Based on a true story, THE IMPOSSIBLE is the unforgettable account of a family caught, with tens of thousands of strangers, in the mayhem of one of the worst natural catastrophes of our time. But the true-life terror is tempered by the unexpected displays of compassion, courage and simple kindness that Maria and her family encounter during the darkest hours of their lives. Both epic and intimate, devastating and uplifting, THE IMPOSSIBLE is a journey to the core of the human heart.